In 2003, 184 countries reported income inequality data. The highest top 1% income concentration was in Peru at 35.37%. The global average top 1% income share was 16.93%.
Countries With the Highest Income Inequality in 2003
The following table ranks countries by their top 1% income share in 2003, showing where wealth concentration is most pronounced.
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Peru's income inequality |
35.37% | 67.48% | 5.78% |
| 2 |  Maldives's wealth gap |
33.24% | 56.20% | 11.59% |
| 3 |  income distribution in Comoros |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 4 |  Central African Republic |
28.20% | 64.71% | 7.02% |
| 5 |  income distribution in Brazil |
27.34% | 58.98% | 9.37% |
| 6 |  income distribution in Yemen |
27.32% | 59.68% | 9.45% |
| 7 |  Chile's income inequality |
27.20% | 60.16% | 8.28% |
| 8 |  Namibia's income inequality |
26.87% | 71.55% | 5.53% |
| 9 |  Cambodia's income inequality |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 10 |  income distribution in Myanmar |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 11 |  Botswana |
25.89% | 66.57% | 6.00% |
| 12 |  Rwanda's wealth gap |
25.87% | 61.66% | 9.46% |
| 13 |  Malawi's wealth gap |
25.61% | 55.51% | 12.08% |
| 14 |  Mozambique's wealth gap |
25.20% | 58.16% | 10.78% |
| 15 |  Iraq's wealth gap |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 16 |  Colombia's income inequality |
23.85% | 60.11% | 7.51% |
| 17 |  income distribution in Bahrain |
23.80% | 59.02% | 9.70% |
| 18 |  income distribution in Thailand |
23.67% | 56.58% | 9.55% |
| 19 |  Honduras's wealth gap |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
| 20 |  Panama's wealth gap |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
Countries With the Most Equal Income Distribution in 2003
These countries had the highest share of income going to the bottom 50% of earners, indicating more equitable distribution.
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Denmark's wealth gap |
9.42% | 28.64% | 25.19% |
| 2 |  Sweden's wealth gap |
10.69% | 31.24% | 25.03% |
| 3 |  Norway's income inequality |
12.12% | 31.25% | 24.99% |
| 4 |  Hungary's wealth gap |
10.68% | 32.40% | 24.13% |
| 5 |  Slovakia's income inequality |
8.16% | 28.98% | 23.84% |
| 6 |  Netherlands |
6.76% | 28.90% | 23.69% |
| 7 |  Finland's wealth gap |
11.80% | 32.58% | 22.89% |
| 8 |  Austria's income inequality |
9.53% | 32.17% | 22.87% |
| 9 |  Slovenia |
7.51% | 30.14% | 22.65% |
| 10 |  Switzerland's wealth gap |
11.48% | 32.42% | 22.52% |
| 11 |  Malta's wealth gap |
9.01% | 30.89% | 21.94% |
| 12 |  income distribution in Iceland |
11.07% | 32.41% | 21.66% |
| 13 |  Italy |
8.36% | 30.86% | 21.62% |
| 14 |  income distribution in Germany |
9.45% | 31.65% | 21.49% |
| 15 |  Ukraine |
10.87% | 35.30% | 20.66% |
| 16 |  Belarus's income inequality |
10.64% | 34.58% | 20.57% |
| 17 |  Ireland |
12.40% | 36.26% | 20.56% |
| 18 |  income distribution in Poland |
10.23% | 35.12% | 20.37% |
| 19 |  Spain's wealth gap |
11.10% | 34.20% | 20.34% |
| 20 |  Croatia's wealth gap |
7.53% | 31.05% | 20.33% |
Global Income Inequality Overview for 2003
- Countries with data: 184
- Average top 1% income share: 16.93%
- Average bottom 50% income share: 14.28%
- Highest top 1% share: Peru (35.37%)
- Lowest top 1% share: Netherlands (6.76%)
Complete Country Rankings for 2003
| # | Country | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | income distribution in Peru |
35.37% | 67.48% | 5.78% |
| 2 | income distribution in Maldives |
33.24% | 56.20% | 11.59% |
| 3 | income distribution in Comoros |
29.13% | 66.96% | 7.73% |
| 4 | Central African Republic's wealth gap |
28.20% | 64.71% | 7.02% |
| 5 | Brazil's income inequality |
27.34% | 58.98% | 9.37% |
| 6 | Yemen |
27.32% | 59.68% | 9.45% |
| 7 | income distribution in Chile |
27.20% | 60.16% | 8.28% |
| 8 | income distribution in Namibia |
26.87% | 71.55% | 5.53% |
| 9 | income distribution in Cambodia |
26.79% | 55.74% | 8.78% |
| 10 | income distribution in Myanmar |
26.49% | 51.12% | 12.71% |
| 11 | Botswana's income inequality |
25.89% | 66.57% | 6.00% |
| 12 | Rwanda |
25.87% | 61.66% | 9.46% |
| 13 | income distribution in Malawi |
25.61% | 55.51% | 12.08% |
| 14 | income distribution in Mozambique |
25.20% | 58.16% | 10.78% |
| 15 | income distribution in Iraq |
24.41% | 55.33% | 11.83% |
| 16 | Colombia's wealth gap |
23.85% | 60.11% | 7.51% |
| 17 | income distribution in Bahrain |
23.80% | 59.02% | 9.70% |
| 18 | income distribution in Thailand |
23.67% | 56.58% | 9.55% |
| 19 | Honduras's wealth gap |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
| 20 | Panama's income inequality |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
| 21 |  Guyana's wealth gap |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
| 22 |  Paraguay's income inequality |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
| 23 |  income distribution in Suriname |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
| 24 |  Jamaica's wealth gap |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
| 25 |  Guatemala's wealth gap |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
| 26 |  Nicaragua's income inequality |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
| 27 |  income distribution in Trinidad and Tobago |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
| 28 |  Bahamas's income inequality |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
| 29 |  Venezuela's income inequality |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
| 30 |  Haiti |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
| 31 |  Bolivia |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
| 32 |  Belize |
23.30% | 56.20% | 8.48% |
| 33 |  income distribution in Ecuador |
23.26% | 52.69% | 9.34% |
| 34 |  Saudi Arabia's income inequality |
23.16% | 52.05% | 10.65% |
| 35 |  Qatar |
22.95% | 55.46% | 9.50% |
| 36 |  Dominican Republic's wealth gap |
22.79% | 54.43% | 8.36% |
| 37 |  Niger's income inequality |
22.52% | 54.31% | 11.74% |
| 38 |  Uruguay's income inequality |
22.37% | 51.28% | 12.37% |
| 39 |  Dominica's wealth gap |
22.02% | 54.45% | 8.35% |
| 40 |  income distribution in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
22.02% | 54.45% | 8.35% |
| 41 |  Saint Lucia's income inequality |
22.02% | 54.45% | 8.35% |
| 42 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis's wealth gap |
22.02% | 54.45% | 8.35% |
| 43 |  income distribution in Grenada |
22.02% | 54.45% | 8.35% |
| 44 |  income distribution in Antigua and Barbuda |
22.02% | 54.45% | 8.35% |
| 45 |  Barbados's wealth gap |
22.02% | 54.45% | 8.35% |
| 46 |  Turkey's income inequality |
21.95% | 55.20% | 12.78% |
| 47 |  Tunisia's income inequality |
21.90% | 57.53% | 11.12% |
| 48 |  Zambia's wealth gap |
21.37% | 56.25% | 10.19% |
| 49 |  income distribution in Seychelles |
21.12% | 52.32% | 12.19% |
| 50 |  Uganda's income inequality |
21.11% | 55.11% | 11.56% |
| 51 |  Kuwait's income inequality |
21.10% | 54.68% | 11.06% |
| 52 |  Sri Lanka |
21.00% | 50.38% | 12.67% |
| 53 |  Kenya |
20.87% | 54.97% | 10.97% |
| 54 |  Gambia |
20.62% | 54.79% | 10.44% |
| 55 |  Cuba |
20.58% | 51.40% | 10.45% |
| 56 |  income distribution in Lebanon |
20.41% | 51.11% | 12.18% |
| 57 |  income distribution in Palestine |
20.34% | 54.31% | 11.37% |
| 58 |  income distribution in Costa Rica |
20.15% | 51.77% | 9.71% |
| 59 |  Oman |
19.93% | 56.27% | 9.06% |
| 60 |  Jordan's income inequality |
19.68% | 51.07% | 13.44% |
| 61 |  income distribution in Israel |
19.52% | 51.69% | 12.15% |
| 62 |  Angola's income inequality |
19.50% | 54.78% | 10.30% |
| 63 |  Iran |
19.34% | 53.35% | 11.84% |
| 64 |  Egypt |
19.30% | 50.78% | 14.85% |
| 65 |  United Arab Emirates |
19.27% | 56.40% | 9.66% |
| 66 |  Turkmenistan's wealth gap |
18.76% | 48.28% | 12.75% |
| 67 |  income distribution in Hong Kong |
18.69% | 46.63% | 14.23% |
| 68 |  Congo |
18.57% | 54.53% | 10.39% |
| 69 |  El Salvador's wealth gap |
18.46% | 49.67% | 8.07% |
| 70 |  Taiwan's income inequality |
18.45% | 45.79% | 11.20% |
| 71 |  Lesotho's wealth gap |
18.25% | 54.82% | 9.25% |
| 72 |  Somalia's income inequality |
18.21% | 50.33% | 13.53% |
| 73 |  Bhutan |
18.08% | 49.19% | 12.25% |
| 74 |  Cameroon's income inequality |
17.99% | 51.30% | 12.23% |
| 75 |  India |
17.94% | 44.23% | 17.32% |
| 76 |  Philippines's income inequality |
17.91% | 49.22% | 12.27% |
| 77 |  Malaysia's income inequality |
17.88% | 45.04% | 14.46% |
| 78 |  income distribution in Pakistan |
17.54% | 44.91% | 15.79% |
| 79 |  Guinea's wealth gap |
17.49% | 50.87% | 12.38% |
| 80 |  income distribution in Georgia |
17.40% | 44.04% | 14.74% |
| 81 |  South Africa's income inequality |
17.24% | 57.11% | 10.08% |
| 82 |  Madagascar's income inequality |
17.20% | 52.18% | 11.87% |
| 83 |  Papua New Guinea's income inequality |
17.20% | 48.29% | 11.91% |
| 84 |  Gabon |
17.14% | 50.78% | 12.51% |
| 85 |  Armenia |
17.02% | 42.55% | 17.53% |
| 86 |  Burkina Faso's wealth gap |
16.89% | 51.34% | 11.94% |
| 87 |  Bangladesh |
16.69% | 45.22% | 15.30% |
| 88 |  Uzbekistan's wealth gap |
16.58% | 45.47% | 14.67% |
| 89 |  Benin's income inequality |
16.35% | 48.83% | 13.88% |
| 90 |  Mongolia's income inequality |
16.35% | 43.93% | 13.57% |
| 91 |  Mexico's wealth gap |
16.34% | 57.02% | 6.08% |
| 92 |  Senegal's wealth gap |
16.30% | 49.29% | 13.20% |
| 93 |  Afghanistan's wealth gap |
16.22% | 41.94% | 17.17% |
| 94 |  Argentina's income inequality |
16.10% | 50.25% | 9.65% |
| 95 |  Estonia's wealth gap |
16.07% | 42.77% | 13.93% |
| 96 |  income distribution in Nepal |
15.94% | 43.80% | 15.69% |
| 97 |  income distribution in Zimbabwe |
15.93% | 51.37% | 11.88% |
| 98 |  Algeria |
15.72% | 46.60% | 15.08% |
| 99 |  Djibouti |
15.59% | 48.28% | 13.32% |
| 100 |  Libya's wealth gap |
15.59% | 47.02% | 14.94% |
| 101 |  income distribution in Mauritania |
15.34% | 49.33% | 13.47% |
| 102 |  Kazakhstan's wealth gap |
15.11% | 42.89% | 14.64% |
| 103 |  Romania's income inequality |
15.02% | 41.10% | 16.97% |
| 104 |  Eritrea |
14.82% | 42.93% | 17.55% |
| 105 |  income distribution in Ethiopia |
14.82% | 42.93% | 17.55% |
| 106 |  income distribution in Ghana |
14.79% | 48.65% | 12.72% |
| 107 |  income distribution in Burundi |
14.61% | 47.14% | 14.62% |
| 108 |  income distribution in Guinea-Bissau |
14.57% | 46.82% | 14.57% |
| 109 |  Chad's income inequality |
14.49% | 47.74% | 13.32% |
| 110 |  Singapore's income inequality |
14.43% | 44.71% | 17.14% |
| 111 |  Luxembourg's wealth gap |
14.40% | 37.75% | 20.18% |
| 112 |  North Korea's income inequality |
14.39% | 43.42% | 14.82% |
| 113 |  South Sudan |
14.21% | 49.39% | 10.97% |
| 114 |  Tanzania |
14.16% | 47.17% | 14.08% |
| 115 |  Togo's wealth gap |
14.06% | 49.59% | 12.35% |
| 116 |  income distribution in Tajikistan |
14.04% | 41.80% | 15.87% |
| 117 |  Serbia's income inequality |
13.97% | 36.83% | 17.69% |
| 118 |  Tuvalu's wealth gap |
13.94% | 41.64% | 19.40% |
| 119 |  Marshall Islands's income inequality |
13.94% | 41.64% | 19.40% |
| 120 |  Fiji's wealth gap |
13.94% | 41.64% | 19.40% |
| 121 |  Samoa's income inequality |
13.94% | 41.64% | 19.40% |
| 122 |  Solomon Islands's income inequality |
13.94% | 41.64% | 19.40% |
| 123 |  Palau's wealth gap |
13.94% | 41.64% | 19.40% |
| 124 |  income distribution in Kiribati |
13.94% | 41.64% | 19.40% |
| 125 |  Vanuatu's income inequality |
13.94% | 41.64% | 19.40% |
| 126 |  Tonga's income inequality |
13.94% | 41.64% | 19.40% |
| 127 |  Nauru's income inequality |
13.94% | 41.64% | 19.40% |
| 128 |  Indonesia's wealth gap |
13.88% | 39.60% | 17.19% |
| 129 |  Mauritius's wealth gap |
13.75% | 45.78% | 15.20% |
| 130 |  Nigeria |
13.59% | 46.24% | 13.48% |
| 131 |  income distribution in Morocco |
13.43% | 48.20% | 14.39% |
| 132 |  Mali |
13.41% | 46.81% | 13.58% |
| 133 |  Azerbaijan |
13.29% | 37.45% | 20.26% |
| 134 |  China |
13.27% | 40.63% | 14.89% |
| 135 |  Macao |
13.23% | 40.51% | 15.15% |
| 136 |  income distribution in United Kingdom |
13.14% | 37.81% | 18.04% |
| 137 |  Canada's wealth gap |
13.06% | 36.95% | 17.13% |
| 138 |  Sierra Leone |
12.89% | 48.98% | 13.31% |
| 139 |  New Zealand |
12.86% | 37.11% | 19.81% |
| 140 |  income distribution in Liberia |
12.70% | 44.69% | 15.39% |
| 141 | Ireland's income inequality |
12.40% | 36.26% | 20.56% |
| 142 |  Japan's wealth gap |
12.16% | 43.22% | 16.71% |
| 143 | income distribution in Norway |
12.12% | 31.25% | 24.99% |
| 144 |  Equatorial Guinea |
12.01% | 45.33% | 13.94% |
| 145 | income distribution in Finland |
11.80% | 32.58% | 22.89% |
| 146 | income distribution in Switzerland |
11.48% | 32.42% | 22.52% |
| 147 |  Cyprus's wealth gap |
11.37% | 36.16% | 18.89% |
| 148 |  Sudan |
11.30% | 42.51% | 15.54% |
| 149 |  France's income inequality |
11.20% | 33.75% | 20.19% |
| 150 |  Latvia's wealth gap |
11.11% | 37.95% | 16.72% |
| 151 | Spain's wealth gap |
11.10% | 34.20% | 20.34% |
| 152 | Iceland |
11.07% | 32.41% | 21.66% |
| 153 |  income distribution in Bulgaria |
10.97% | 36.47% | 19.34% |
| 154 | Ukraine's income inequality |
10.87% | 35.30% | 20.66% |
| 155 |  Greece |
10.76% | 36.28% | 17.76% |
| 156 |  San Marino's income inequality |
10.74% | 34.72% | 18.96% |
| 157 |  Andorra's wealth gap |
10.74% | 34.72% | 18.96% |
| 158 |  income distribution in Liechtenstein |
10.74% | 34.72% | 18.96% |
| 159 |  Monaco |
10.74% | 34.72% | 18.96% |
| 160 | Sweden's wealth gap |
10.69% | 31.24% | 25.03% |
| 161 | Hungary |
10.68% | 32.40% | 24.13% |
| 162 | Belarus |
10.64% | 34.58% | 20.57% |
| 163 |  Kyrgyzstan's income inequality |
10.42% | 37.37% | 18.87% |
| 164 |  Portugal |
10.31% | 37.52% | 18.00% |
| 165 | income distribution in Poland |
10.23% | 35.12% | 20.37% |
| 166 |  Montenegro's wealth gap |
9.91% | 33.53% | 19.74% |
| 167 |  income distribution in Moldova |
9.68% | 35.77% | 16.14% |
| 168 | Austria |
9.53% | 32.17% | 22.87% |
| 169 |  Australia's wealth gap |
9.48% | 32.61% | 18.13% |
| 170 | Germany's income inequality |
9.45% | 31.65% | 21.49% |
| 171 | Denmark's income inequality |
9.42% | 28.64% | 25.19% |
| 172 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina's wealth gap |
9.15% | 34.03% | 17.98% |
| 173 |  income distribution in Lithuania |
9.08% | 34.13% | 20.03% |
| 174 |  Sao Tome and Principe's wealth gap |
9.08% | 39.59% | 17.04% |
| 175 | Malta |
9.01% | 30.89% | 21.94% |
| 176 |  Albania's income inequality |
8.74% | 33.69% | 18.16% |
| 177 |  Kosovo |
8.69% | 33.87% | 17.44% |
| 178 | income distribution in Italy |
8.36% | 30.86% | 21.62% |
| 179 | Slovakia |
8.16% | 28.98% | 23.84% |
| 180 |  North Macedonia's wealth gap |
7.85% | 31.02% | 17.39% |
| 181 |  Belgium's wealth gap |
7.67% | 31.54% | 20.14% |
| 182 | Croatia's income inequality |
7.53% | 31.05% | 20.33% |
| 183 | income distribution in Slovenia |
7.51% | 30.14% | 22.65% |
| 184 | income distribution in Netherlands |
6.76% | 28.90% | 23.69% |
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.